Edenophorus simplex, Sinclair, 2002

Sinclair, Bradley J., 2002, Revision of the South African endemic genus Edenophorus Smith (Diptera: Empididae), African Invertebrates 43, pp. 109-122 : 118-119

Edenophorus simplex sp. n.

( Fig. 9 )

Etymology: Named in reference to its relatively simple male terminalia.

Holotype male labelled: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: ‘ SOUTH AFRICA, CAPE PROV. / 17mi. N. Vanrhynsdorp at/ fork of Geelsbek & Sout / Rivers,Sept.10,1972/ ME&BJ.Irwin, 3118Bc, 280ft [left wing absent]’ ( NMSA).

Recognition: This species is distinguished by the absence of cell dm, short proboscis, and male terminalia which are held horizontally, such that the cerci are dorsal in position. Description:

Male:

Head: Eyes widely separated above antennae; facets not enlarged; setulae on face; 4 pairs of short setulae on frons, upper-most longest. Antenna dark, basal segments concolorous with postpedicel; scape very short, pedicel globular and nearly subequal in length to scape; postpedicel conical, clothed in fine pubescence, ca 4 times length of pedicel, gradually tapered to style, which is subequal to length of pedicel. Occipital setae in single arching outer row, slightly more stout than surrounding setae. Proboscis brown with pale labellum; nearly subequal in length to height of head; palpus one-third length of proboscis, slender, bearing long, pale setae.

Thorax: Dusted entirely with grey pruinescence.Thoracic setae generally short, slender, reduced to numerous rows: Acr biserial; more than 10 dc, uniserial, gradually increasing in length posteriorly with prescutellar dc stout similar to pprn; inter-alar setulae scattered, extending to wing base; 2 pprn (lower directed anteriorly, upper directed dorsally) and several short setulae; 1 ph; 2–3? npl; 1 pal; 4–5 sctl, inner 2 pairs subequal.Antepronotum with 2 pairs of short, slender setae; upper half of anepisternum obscured by pin; precoxal bridge with 1 stout seta above fore coxa.

Legs: Pale yellow (concolorous with halter), apical tarsomeres darker. Fore coxa lacking long lateral setae; segments clothed in fine setulae, lacking modified setae.

Wings (length 2.4 mm): Stigma faint. Venation similar to other species, except crossvein dm-cu absent; M vein faint, medial fork U-shaped, petiole or stem slightly shorter than fork; M 1 strongly arched towards wing margin, distinctly divergent from R 4+5. Halter yellow.

Abdomen: Dusted greyish brown, concolorous with thorax. T8 membranous, S8 onethird width of previous segment, divided into pair of lateral sclerites.

Terminalia ( Fig. 9 ): Held horizontally, cercus dorsal. Cercus heavily sclerotised, ventral surface flattened and expanded to base of phallus. Epandrial lobe finger-like, slender, arched dorsally. Hypandrium subdivided laterally, exposing phallus; gonocoxal apodemes broad and flattened. Phallus heavily sclerotised, strongly arched; base of phallus (sperm chamber) expanded to enclose broad base of ejaculatory apodeme. Postgonite with broadly rounded apex, encircling phallus.

Female: Unknown.

Remarks: Pollen grains were observed in the dissected and cleared abdomen of the holotype.

Figures

Figs 8–10. Edenophorus male terminalia, lateral view. 8. E. hiemalis sp. n. 9. E. simplex sp. n. 10. E. stuckenbergi sp. n. Sclerites of segment 8 marked by dashed outline (not shown in Fig. 9). Scale bar = 0.1 mm. [Abbreviations: cerc = cercus; ej apod = ejaculatory apodeme; epand = epandrium; epand lb = epandrial lobe; goncx apod = gonocoxal apodeme; pgt = postgonite; ph = phallus; sp ch = sperm chamber.]